# A Better Tomorrow (1986) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/a-better-tomorrow-1986/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 84% |
| Critic Score | 93% |
| Audience Score | 94% |
| Metascore | 78/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 7.5/10 |
| Director | John Woo |
| Genres | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Runtime | 95 min |
| Festival premiere | HKIFF 1987 |

## Quick answer

A Better Tomorrow (1986) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. John Woo’s heroic-bloodshed landmark made Chow Yun-fat an icon — stylish, operatic, and endlessly imitated across action Metascore 78/100. Directed by John Woo.

## Critics consensus

John Woo’s heroic-bloodshed landmark made Chow Yun-fat an icon — stylish, operatic, and endlessly imitated across action cinema.

## Synopsis

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

## Cast

Chow Yun-fat, Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, Emily Chu Bo-Yee, Waise Lee Chi-Hung, Tien Feng, John Woo, Sek Yin-Tsi, Kenneth Tsang, Wang Hsieh

## Accolades

Premiered at HKIFF 1987.

## Common questions

**Is A Better Tomorrow worth watching?**
A Better Tomorrow holds a 84% Celluloid Score. John Woo’s heroic-bloodshed landmark made Chow Yun-fat an icon — stylish, operatic, and endlessly imitated across action cinema.

**What is A Better Tomorrow about?**
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

**Who directed A Better Tomorrow?**
A Better Tomorrow (1986) was directed by John Woo.

**What is the Celluloid Score of A Better Tomorrow?**
84% — the average of five public sources: critics 93%, audience 94%, Metascore 78/100, Letterboxd 4/5, and IMDb 7.5/10.

**Where can I watch A Better Tomorrow?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the A Better Tomorrow page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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